Yan Xue hadn’t expected to go into labor so soon after Xue Yongkang left. At first, she thought it was just contractions, but she quickly realized something was different—this was the real thing.
She immediately told Second Old Lady, "Grandma, I think the baby’s coming."
Her voice was calm, so calm that Second Old Lady didn’t react at first. After a pause, she gasped, "You’re in labor?"
Everything had been prepared in advance, and Second Old Lady was no stranger to childbirth. She hurried out to ask a neighbor to send word to Qi Fang.
By the time she returned, Yan Xue had already undone her hair. "Grandma, could you help me wash my hair? And heat up some food—I’ll need a bite to eat soon."
This was her first child, and the labor would be slow. She knew she’d need energy later.
These were all things Second Old Lady should have reminded her of, but Yan Xue had beaten her to it. The old woman looked at her, momentarily speechless.
Yan Xue cradled her belly and smiled. "Grandma, hurry up, or I might not have the strength to eat later."
If not for her pale face and the fine sweat beading her nose from the last wave of pain, no one would have guessed she was about to give birth.
Second Old Lady quickly heated the food in the pot, then brought two thermoses of hot water to wash Yan Xue’s hair.
Before long, Qi Fang returned, still in his work clothes but composed. The moment he stepped inside, his eyes found Yan Xue. "I’ve sent for the midwife. She’ll be here soon."
Yan Xue gave a quiet "Mm" in response.
He continued, "I also spoke with Secretary Lang. If needed, the motorcycle cart is ready to go at any time."
This was a precaution—just in case. Better to arrange things now than scramble later.
Another "Mm" from Yan Xue. She lowered her gaze, thinking if there was anything else to settle, but Qi Fang had already changed clothes, washed his hands, and returned to help dry her hair. "I asked Aunt Liu to pick up Jigang from school. If it’s too late, he can stay with them overnight."
He’d even thought of Yan Jigang, still at school. Who knew how many places he’d rushed to in such a short time, how many things he’d arranged.
Yan Xue considered for a moment. Maybe it was his thoroughness, or maybe the pain was too distracting, but she couldn’t think of anything to add.
She glanced at him, still unused to this—not having to think of everything herself, having someone else take care of it all.
Second Old Lady wasn’t used to it either. The couple was so composed, so methodical, it left her—the eldest in the house—feeling oddly unnecessary.
Soon, the midwife from the lumberyard arrived. Taking in the scene, she almost doubted whether anyone was actually in labor.
No cries of pain from the mother, no frantic rushing from the family. Whatever she asked for was handed to her immediately, as if they’d rehearsed this countless times.
Qi Fang was still walking with Yan Xue, his arm steady, his voice calm. Just watching them, the midwife felt a little more at ease.
Only when Yan Xue’s contractions grew more frequent did the midwife decide it was time. As she directed them to move Yan Xue inside, Qi Fang held her shoulders and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "The doctor said your baby’s position is good, and the child isn’t too big. Everything should go smoothly. Don’t be afraid."
The last words were whispered into Yan Xue’s ear, so soft it seemed he didn’t want anyone else to hear. Yet they made her eyes sting.
He’d noticed.
Noticed how she’d been trying not to worry anyone, how she’d been forcing herself to appear unshaken, unafraid.
But this was her first time giving birth, and the pain in her abdomen was relentless. To make matters worse, it was such a backward era—finding a hospital capable of performing a cesarean section was nearly impossible.
Yan Xue was optimistic and resilient, but she wasn’t made of iron. It was just that life had never given her the luxury of being weak or faltering.
For the first time, she felt her composure slipping. Though she said nothing as she looked at the man, the glistening moisture in her eyes spoke volumes.
Qi Fang simply wiped her eyes, then cupped her face, leaning down to press his forehead against hers. He didn’t care if anyone else was still in the room. "Don’t be afraid. I’m here."
His voice was as steady as when he’d told her he’d already sent for the midwife, when he’d said he’d spoken to Secretary Lang, when he’d assured her everything was prepared…
The man even brushed his lips against hers. "If it hurts too much, call for me. I’ll come in and stay with you." His tone was firm, dependable.
Yan Xue couldn’t help but chase after him, biting down hard on his collarbone until the fabric of his shirt was damp. Only then did she let go and push him away. "Stop causing trouble here."
The events that followed were a blur to Yan Xue—mostly because the pain left her too exhausted to remember. She only knew to follow the midwife’s instructions: inhale, push.
After what felt like an eternity, she finally felt a sudden lightness between her legs, followed by the midwife’s joyful cry, "It’s a boy! A healthy, chubby boy!"
Someone handed over sterilized scissors to cut the umbilical cord, and soon after, the sharp, vigorous cries of the newborn filled the room.
Yan Xue lay there catching her breath for a long moment before opening her eyes. By then, the power in the logging camp had already gone out, leaving only the soft glow of a single candle flickering on the table.
A towel gently wiped the sweat from her face, then careful fingers tried to brush away the stray hairs clinging to her cheeks.
But after several attempts, the strands still stuck. At first, she thought they were just stubbornly tangled—until she realized it was because the man’s hands were unsteady.
She couldn’t help but glance up at his face, still as composed and expressionless as ever, and burst into laughter. "Master Qi, is this how you usually fix machines?"
His movements paused. The rough pad of his thumb traced her cheek lightly. "Good thing machines aren’t you."
His voice was tender, and in the candlelight, his downturned peach-blossom eyes held a warmth that was almost intimate.
Yan Xue realized she’d been wrong about him. He wasn’t the type to gaze at even a dog with affection—when he truly softened, it was unmistakable.
So she lay still, letting him tidy her hair and adjust her clothes before finally searching for their child.
"Six pounds and one ounce," the midwife announced, having already cleaned and swaddled the baby. She handed the bundle to Qi Fang, who then placed it carefully beside Yan Xue’s pillow.
A tiny, soft little thing, with reddish skin and eyes still tightly shut, breathing in shallow, quiet puffs.
Yan Xue pressed her cheek against him, feeling the warmth of shared blood, a connection that seeped straight into her heart.
From today onward, she had one more family member—one bound by blood to both her and Qi Fang.
Qi Fang reached out too, his fingertips hovering just above the baby’s face before hesitating. Instead, he lightly brushed the back of his finger against the infant’s cheek.
From today onward, he also had one more family member—one bound by blood to both him and Yan Xue…
Yan Jigang didn’t meet his little nephew until the next day. After glancing between his sister and brother-in-law, he wisely refrained from commenting that the baby looked a bit…unattractive.
Liu Weibin, who had come over to see the baby, was quite experienced. "Don't worry, Airong looked like this when she was first born too. She’ll grow out of it."
The little girl was already able to sit up, plump and fair-skinned, and indeed not unattractive. Yan Jigang felt reassured.
The two younger ones had seen the baby but still had to return to school for classes. Meanwhile, Qi Fang had taken paternity leave from the small repair factory and stayed home to take care of Yan Xue and the child.
Yan Xue had no idea how a grown man like him had managed to ask for paternity leave, but Xu Wenli had approved it anyway.
So apart from breastfeeding, Yan Xue didn’t have to worry about things like diaper changes at all. When Xue Yongkang showed up again, Qi Fang intercepted him right away.
The man didn’t even let him inside, blocking him at the door of the inner room. "She made herself very clear last time."
His voice was cold, and those peach-blossom eyes carried a faint chill when they landed on someone, sending an unsettling shiver down the spine.
Xue Yongkang immediately recalled the look the man had given him that day but brushed it off as overthinking. After all, he hadn’t done anything to offend Yan Xue—what did it matter to him whether she had the baby or not?
Besides, this man had seemed quite tempted before, even complaining that the offer wasn’t enough. Xue Yongkang forced a smile. "No rush, we can discuss this later. I’m here to see the baby today." He pulled out five yuan from his pocket.
That was really quite generous—in those days, the usual gift for such occasions was two yuan, especially since he was just a distant uncle who hadn’t been seen in years.
But Qi Fang merely glanced at it and didn’t take the money. Instead, he suddenly asked, "Her family gave you quite a bit, didn’t they?"
The blunt question made Xue Yongkang stiffen. "What kind of talk is that? We’re still family—Yan Xue and I share the same surname, after all..."
"Then why go to such lengths?" Qi Fang lowered his gaze to the five yuan, his silence alone somehow dripping with sarcasm.
Xue Yongkang’s expression darkened. "What’s wrong with giving a gift to celebrate Yan Xue’s baby? I’m her uncle!"
It seemed the man’s attitude really was tied to Yan Xue’s sudden delivery—either he genuinely thought the offer was too little, or the couple hadn’t reached an agreement.
Lowering his voice, Xue Yongkang pressed, "Think about it. It’s free money, and it won’t cost you any effort."
When Qi Fang still didn’t respond, he added, "I’m only doing this because I have ties to Yan Xue’s father. Those things rightfully belong to her—are you really going to let someone else take them?"
But Yan Xue wanted nothing to do with their so-called gifts or their family ties. Qi Fang’s gaze remained indifferent. "There’s still you, isn’t there?"
Xue Yongkang paused, momentarily confused, before the man continued, "Since it’s no trouble, you can handle it yourself."
This time, Xue Yongkang understood—he was being told to act as the filial descendant, carrying the burial urn and filling the grave for Yan Xue’s third uncle.
Wasn’t this an insult? He and the third uncle were of the same generation! Xue Yongkang’s face twisted in fury.
But Qi Fang acted oblivious. "Might as well keep the benefits in the family. You’ll even get more out of it."
The man stared at him calmly. "After all, we share the same surname. You’re practically family—this could bring you even closer."
It was infuriating. Was "bringing you closer" even the right phrase to use here?
Xue Yongkang’s eyes reddened with anger. "If you think it’s too little, just say so! No need to be disgusting about it!"
With that, he tried to push past. "I’m not talking to you. I’ll ask Yan Xue myself—is this how her mother raised her?"
The man grabbed Xue Yongkang’s wrist firmly. "Enough is enough. Don’t cause trouble for her." His eyes held a clear warning, and the grip on Xue Yongkang’s wrist was so tight that it left him speechless from the pain, unsure even where exactly he was being held.
Outside, the commotion gradually died down, and inside, Yan Xue, lying on the heated brick bed, slowly relaxed her nerves. Out of habit, her first instinct when Xue Yongkang arrived had been to handle things herself, but Qi Fang had stepped out before she could.
Not only had he gone out, but the man’s sharp tongue was as cutting as ever—something Xue Yongkang was probably experiencing for the first time. Yan Xue didn’t even need to hear the exchange to know Qi Fang had thoroughly put Xue Yongkang in his place, making her involvement unnecessary. She couldn’t help but kiss her son and murmur, "When you grow up, don’t take after your dad. Be sweet-tongued—that’s how you win a girl’s heart."
Qi Fang walked in just in time to hear this and paused before leaning over to look at the child. "He should take after you instead."
Meaning Yan Xue was the sweet-talking, charming one. The remark made her laugh. "Is he gone?"
"Gone," Qi Fang replied, sitting beside her on the edge of the bed. "But I doubt he’s given up. He’ll probably try to talk to you again. We’ll need to turn up the heat."
At that, Yan Xue could only silently wish her so-called "third uncle" good luck. She thought of Liang Qimao, Yu Cuiyun, Cheng Yuzhen, and even Chen Jizhong, who was still undergoing "reform."
Sure enough, when their little one was quiet, he was probably just holding in a bowel movement. But when Qi Fang was quiet, it always meant he was plotting something.
Within a couple of days, word had spread through the forestry center that Yan Xue had given birth, and people began showing up again under the pretense of visiting the baby.
Those who had a good relationship with Yan Xue and came without ulterior motives were let in by Qi Fang, while those she had no interest in seeing were firmly turned away.
Among the latter was the wife of Pan Dagao, who had once tried to push a simpleton onto Yan Xue. Ever since learning how much the long-term workers at the pilot project had earned, her sister-in-law had picked another fight with her.
Honestly, even she wanted to argue with herself—why had she been so foolish as to push Caixia into that mess? What did Caixia matter compared to her own family’s interests?
If Yan Xue really held a grudge and refused to employ their family in the future, wouldn’t they be at a huge disadvantage?
So she prepared a basket of eggs and came to visit the baby, hoping to apologize and smooth things over with Yan Xue.
But Qi Fang stopped her at the door. "Yan Xue just fell asleep." He didn’t take the eggs either. "We appreciate the gesture, but we already have more eggs than we can handle."
It wasn’t an excuse. Between gifts from others and the hens raised by Second Old Lady this year, they had more eggs than they could possibly eat.
The wife of Pan Dagao wasn’t ready to give up and tried to ask when Yan Xue might be available. Qi Fang glanced at her and said, "She hasn’t been in the best mood lately."
As for why—well, there was someone at the guesthouse pestering her to return to her hometown, making her uneasy about the pilot project.
He didn’t elaborate further, but the omission left room for imagination. The wife of Pan Dagao immediately jumped to conclusions.
Sure, Yan Xue had married into their community, but if something happened and she went back to her hometown for months, would the pilot project even continue running smoothly?
And if it weren’t for this troublemaker upsetting Yan Xue, maybe she would have been let in just now, and the issue would already be resolved.
Frustrated and full of regret she couldn’t direct at herself, the wife of Pan Dagao stormed straight to the guesthouse to confront Xue Yongkang.
Xue Yongkang barely had time to react before being berated out of the blue—accused of having too much time on his hands, incapable of solving his own problems, and pestering Technician Yan for no reason.
The onlookers, initially amused, immediately grew curious upon hearing Technician Yan’s name involved. The wife of Pan Dagao, who had no idea what was actually going on, and knowing that Little Master Qi (Qi Fang) was famously tight-lipped, decided to spice things up with her own embellished version.
Then someone took the speculation even further: "He’s clinging to Technician Yan, insisting she return to her hometown—could it be he heard she knows how to grow mushrooms and wants in on it?"
This was miles away from the truth, but rumors thrive precisely because people love to spread them and others love to believe them.
Soon, Xue Yongkang found himself the target of collective outrage. A group of women with little to do in the cold weather surrounded him, unleashing a verbal barrage against the audacious man who dared to "steal" someone away.
His father had once been the clan leader and later the village Party secretary, so Xue had grown up with a decent education. He was utterly unprepared for this kind of confrontation and turned livid with rage on the spot.
Just as that ordeal ended, someone else picked a fight with him—completely unprovoked. It started with the classic "What are you looking at?" even though he hadn’t even glanced in their direction.
Xue Yongkang couldn’t take it anymore. He asked around to find out why everyone referred to Yan Xue as "Technician Yan," and that’s when he learned she had spearheaded a pilot project that earned over a thousand yuan in just one year.
Even an eighth-grade worker couldn’t match her earnings. No wonder she dismissed her family’s modest assets and refused to let her husband, Qi Fang, return home.
Since he was already inquiring about Yan Xue, he casually asked about Qi Fang too—only to hear a string of impressive stories that crushed any remaining hope.
"If I were him, I wouldn’t go back either," Xue thought. "Being handed something for free is one thing, but having to kowtow and carry someone’s funeral basin? Definitely not worth it."
Xue Yongkang gave up on persuading the couple. After all, he’d made the effort to visit and reason with them—if they wouldn’t listen, it wasn’t his fault.
Before leaving, he paid another visit to Yan Xue and her newborn, bringing a gift and speaking graciously. It was better to stay on good terms with such a capable pair than to make enemies.
Seeing Xue Yongkang reminded Qi Fang of the small distillery owned by Yan Xue’s birth father—and the unanswered questions gnawing at him.
But as he glanced up, the baby in the swaddle slept soundly, and Yan Xue, leaning close, was fighting off drowsiness herself. He decided to let it go—for now.
Their relationship had only just begun to mend, and Yan Xue was still recovering from childbirth.
Qi Fang adjusted the blankets over the mother and child, then checked the boiler to ensure the room stayed warm. After washing his hands, he quietly returned.
While this side of life was peaceful, the town’s Forestry Bureau was anything but—chaos had erupted.
Secretary Lang had arrived with money and account books to report their achievements, prompting Qu Mingli to immediately convene a meeting.
The moment the topic of the Jinchuan Forest Farm pilot project came up, everyone’s hearts skipped a beat—this year’s experiment clearly hadn’t failed.
Not only had it not failed, it had likely turned a profit. Otherwise, Qu Mingli would’ve suppressed the news, not called a high-profile meeting.
The most visibly displeased was Director Liu. Had he not been outmaneuvered by Qu Mingli and Secretary Lang, the project might never have happened.
The only consolation was that the pilot’s output couldn’t have been too high—otherwise, how could everything have sold out by early November?
Director Liu wore a stern expression, determined to nitpick whatever Qu Mingli and Lang Zhongting said later.
Then Secretary Lang pulled out two thick stacks of "big unity" bills—over two thousand yuan in cash.
The meeting room fell silent. Everyone’s eyes locked onto the money, their earlier thoughts forgotten.
Whatever they had planned to say no longer mattered—the amount submitted by Jinchuan Forestry Farm far exceeded their expectations.
Finally, Director Liu spoke first. "Is this your pilot project’s total sales for the year?" He was reluctant to believe the suspicion forming in his mind.
Secretary Lang chuckled. "Of course not. This is just the 20% share handed over to the bureau. I’ve brought the ledger too."
As soon as he handed it over, Director Liu eagerly took it and flipped through the pages.
The records showed over three thousand jin sold for more than ten thousand yuan. How could their small pilot project, with minimal investment and manpower, yield such high output?
Unwilling to accept it, Director Liu passed the ledger to the deputy director, who had a financial background, for verification.
The deputy director could tell at a glance the accounts were clean, but he still scrutinized them before nodding. "This is indeed the bureau’s rightful 20%."
Director Liu fell silent. The others in the office did too.
After all, they had distanced themselves from this project early on. If it had failed, they wouldn’t be blamed—but now that it succeeded, they couldn’t claim any credit.
This was all Director Liu’s doing. If not for him, they wouldn’t have thought to wash their hands of it…
Though no one voiced it, some stole glances at Director Liu, whose face darkened further, his grip tightening around his enamel mug.
They had made their own choices—he hadn’t forced them to follow his lead. These people… these people…
Not all of them were loyal to him. Back then, they feared accountability, but now that the project proved viable—and lucrative—some were quick to change their tune.
"I recall hearing that once planted, the fungus yields harvests for three years. So even if we don’t plant next year, will the output remain the same?"
A sharp question. Qu Mingli gave Secretary Lang a nod, and the latter promptly replied, "Next year’s yield will be even higher."
He produced a document. "This shows the output from Technician Yan’s trial batch last year—clearly outperforming this year’s new planting."
The others examined it. Sure enough, even with minimal investment next year, they could expect at least another ten thousand yuan in profit.
Don’t underestimate that sum. Compared to the timber the Forestry Bureau supplied to the state annually, it might seem insignificant—but how did it stack up against ginseng cultivation?
Ginseng required land, labor, and years to mature. The fungus, meanwhile, thrived on logging byproducts.
With seven subordinate forestry farms under Chengshui’s jurisdiction, imagine the additional revenue if all of them utilized these byproducts.
Someone’s mind was already racing. "This project is clearly viable. We should consider expanding the scale."
Others chimed in. "Since Chengshui Forestry Bureau pioneered this, we could develop it into a signature initiative—strengthen and grow it."
If successful, it would mean a steady stream of political achievements, benefiting everyone in Chengshui Forestry Bureau.
To everyone's surprise, Director Liu, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke up: "This is indeed worth pursuing."
The others looked taken aback, but he continued, "Jinchuan Forestry Farm shouldn’t hold back its technology—it should share more with other farms. After all, we’re all part of the same bureau, working for its benefit and for the nation’s."
So this was his play—forcing Jinchuan Forestry Farm to hand over its well-developed techniques for the bureau and other farms to use.
Once the other farms caught up, Jinchuan would lose its edge, and dealing with Lang Zhongting, who had dug this pit for him, would be child’s play.
Yet Jinchuan had no choice but to comply. Nowadays, a single blueprint was often shared among multiple factories. Refusing would make them seem unwilling to contribute to the bureau or the nation.
Some cast sympathetic glances at Secretary Lang, while others kept their eyes down, feigning neutrality. Surprisingly, Secretary Lang’s expression remained unreadable—if anything, he even smiled.
He realized Yan Xue had been meticulous in her planning, anticipating even this scenario.
Secretary Lang produced another document. "Our farm never intended to leave everyone behind. Here’s another proposal—feel free to review it."
Qi Fang internally cheered: My wife sees everything coming! My wife is the absolute best!
